Switchboard



Feb. 23, 1932. J. H. PENGILLY ET AL SWITCHBOARD Filed June l5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet y m M W f W M d M M,

Feb' 23, 1932- J. H. PENGILLY E'r AL 1,346,653

SWITCHBOARD Filed June 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wir @y 49 m mi 5] f/v MaJ/v 70E s..

/o Patented Feb. 23, ,1932

JOSEPH H. PENGILLY, OF LOS ANGELES,

HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS T0 DIAMO LOS AN GELIS, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA CALIFORNIA, AND WILL F. WILSON,l O1'l ND ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CO., OF

TION 0F DELAWARE SWITCHBOARD Application led June 15,

This invention relates to'electrical apparatus and particularly to switch board constructions.

It is an object of this invention to prov1de a switch board construction in which the individual switches maybe detached and removed -from the switch board without disturbing any other partof the switch board.

A further object of our invention is to provide a switch unit in which the fuses are placed in back ofthe switch so that they cannot be touched when the switch is closed or when they are .connected to the hot side of the circuit.

It is also an object of this vinvention to provide a switch unit in which the live .break Jaws are enclosed by an insulation housing so that there is no danger of their being touched in Figs. 7 and 8.

when replacing fuses.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switch unit in which the switch is opened whenever the door of the switch unit is in open position.

Other objects and advantages will be made evident in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front view of a switch construction embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of a switch unit of this invention, the switch being in opened position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the switch being in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fio. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7 7 y of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the invention has a main supporting frame 11 which has vertical attaching bars 12, these bars being shown best Carried by the frame 11 is a plurality of switch units 13 embodying the Afeatures of this invention.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive the 23 and have leads or 1927. Serial No. 199,111.

construction of the switch unit of this invention will now be described. The switch unit has a front 2O which is in the form of a llat plate. This front 20 is secured to the ab taching bars 12 by suitable screws 21. Carried by supporting webs 22 a' distance in back of the front 20 is an insulation base 23, this insulation base 23 extending substantially parallel to the front. Carried by the insulation base 23 are upper fuse holders 24 and lower fuse holders 25, the upper and lower fuse holders being arranged in pairs and adapted to' carry fuses 26.' The upper fuse holders 24 have secondary arms 27 which extend rearward through the insulation base conductors 28 connected thereto.

Secured to the insulation base 23 and in electrical contactwith each of the lower fuse holders 25 are pivot arms 30. These pivot arms 30 extend below the lower fuse holders 25 and terminate in front of them. Pivotally connected to the forward ends of the pivot arms 30 by means of pivot members l32 are blades 33. The blades 33 consist of pairs of strips 34 which are attached to brackets 35. The brackets 35 are secured to insulation strips 36 which extend at right angles to the blades 33, securing them together ina unit. Attached to the insulation strips 36 is a door 38 which is adapted to close an opening 39 of the front 20. The door 38 is provided with a handle 41 whereby it may be swung between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be noted that the blades 33 swing as a unit on the pivots 32. The door 38 does not have a pivot of its own. l/Vhen the door isin the position shown in Fig. 4, the opening 39 is closed and the blades 33 rest in back of the front 20 in vertical position. The fuses 26 at this time are directly in back of the blades 33 and extend parallel thereto. lVhen the door 38 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the lower edge thereof engages stops 42 which determine this position. The blades 33 at this time .are in horizontal position.- They have moved from position in front of the fuses 26 and thus make it possiblev to. place or remove fuses.

Connected to the insulation base 23 near i the upper end are switch contacts or break jaws 45. These break jaws 45 are attached ,to theinsulation base by brackets 46'. Ex-

tendin rearward from the break jaws 45 throug the insulation base 23 are primary arms 45a. When the blades 33 are in the Vposition shown in Fig. 4 they-engage the 1y in back of the front 20, and insulation partitions 50 which separate each of the break jaws 45 from each other. The insulav-tion housing 47 is provided with lo enings 51 adjacent to each of the break jaws 45 through which openings the ends of the -blades 33 may move into the insulation houselectrical parts are exposed and accessible ing and in contact with the break jaws; It will be seen from thedrawings that when the door 38 is in opened position'. all of the with the exception ofthe break jaws 45. 'Ifhe break jaws arein .electrical connection with the supply circuit, this being accomplished by attaching the ends of the primary ,arms 45a to bus-bars 52 which extend ver- The primary arms 12 to the ground by a any danger of touching live tically and parallel to the insulation base 23. i 45a of the different switch units 13 each connect to the bus-bars 52. All of the other electrical parts of the switch unit are dead and by connecting the frame conductor 80, as shown in Fig. 3, there is no danger in touching any part of the open switch; therefore, 1t is possible to place or remove fuses 26 without parts. One very important feature of the invention 1s that the switch units 13 may be installed or removed in the switch board construction without disturbing any' of the other parts. If it is desired to remove a switch unitkthe primary and secondary arms are vdisconnectedfrom the parts to which they are `connected and theI screws 21 which attachthe front plate to the bars 12 are removed. It is then possible to pull the entire switch unit forward from the switch board construction. This removal has no elect upon the operation of the other switch units and doesnot disturb them in any way.

The switch unit of the invention includes somfvery important features. In the first place, the positioning of the fuse holders 24 in back of the blades 33 when the blades are in closed position is very important. The

fuses 26-are in such a position that it is ab- -soluftely impossible or anyone to try to replace them or remove them when the switch is closed. The only way in which the fuses 26 can be reached is through the front 20.

When the switch is closed the door 38 closes the opening 39. This is also an important feature of the invention because it prevents anyone from getting` to the switch parts when the switch is closed. By connecting the blades 33 and the door 38 together, the switch is opened whenever the doorl38`v is swung in a position to expose the opening 39.

c It is E.also important to the invention to provide the insulation housing 47 around the break jaws 45.v These break jaws 45, when the door 38 is open, are the only live parts which project in front of the insulation base 23; however, `by providing the insulation housing 47 around them there is no danger yof a person coming in contact with these parts.

We claim as our invention:

1. A switch unit comprising: a front; a base supported in back of said front; a break jawV supported by said base; a pivot bracket supported by said base; a blade pivoted to said pivot bracket, said blade being adapted to engage said break jaw; an insulation housing enclosing said break jaw, said housing having an opening for said blade; and fuse holders supported by said base in back of said blade, said blade extending across said fuse holders to prevent a fuse from being removed therefrom when said blade is in closed position, one of said fuse holders being electrically connectedto said pivot bracket.

' 2. A switch unit comprising: a front; a base supported in back of said front; a break jaw supported by said base; a ivot bracket c supported by said base; a bla e pivoted to said pivot bracket, said blade being adapted to engage said break jaw; a door secured to said blade, said door closing an opening in said front when said blade is in closed position, and exposing said opening when said blade is in opened osition; an insulation' housing enclpsing sa1d break jaw, said housing having an opening for said blade; and fuse holders supported by said -b'ase in back of said blade, said blade extending across said fuse holders to preventa fuse from being removed therefrom when said blade is in closed position, one of. said fuse holders being electrically connected to said pivot bracket.

3. A switch unit comprising: a front;a base supported -in back of said front; a break jaw supported by said base; a pivot bracket supported by said base a blade pivoted to sai pivot bracket, said blade being adapted to engage said break jaw; an insulation housing enclosing said break jaw, said housing having an opening for said blade; fuse holders supported by said base in back of said blade, said blade extending across said fuse holders to prevent a fuse from being removed therefrom when said blade is in closed position, one of said fuse holders being electrically connected to said pivot bracket; a pri mary arm extending from said break jaw rearward throughsaid base; and a secondary arm extending from one of said fuse holders rearward through said base.

housing enclosing said break jaw, said housing having an opening for said blade; a rimary arm extending from said break )aw rearward through said base; and a secondary arm extending from one of said fuse holders rearward through said base.

5. A switch unit comprising: a front; a base supported in back of said front; a break jaw supported by said base; a pivot 'bracket supported by said base; a blade p'ivoted to said pivot bracket, said blade being adapted to engage said break jaw; a door secured to said blade, said door closing an opening in said front when said blade is in closed posltion, and exposing said opening when said blade is in opened position; an insulation housing enclosing said break ]aw, said housing having an opening for said blade; fuse holders supported by said base in back of said blade, said blade extending across said fuse holders to prevent a fuse from being removed therefrom when said blade is in closed position, one of said fuse holders being electrically connected to said pivot bracket; a primary arm extending from said break jaw rearward through said base; and a secondary arm extending from one of said fuse holders rearward through `said base. f

6. A switch unit comprising: a pair offuse holders, one of said pair of holders being' electrically connected to the circuit to be broken; a blade pivoted adjacent one end of a fuse held by vsaid fuse holders, said bladev being electrically connected to the other of said pair of fuse holdersl and movable'from open position wherein said fuse holders may be re-fused into closed position wherein said blade lies along and closely adjacent said fuse in a manner to prevent its removal; and

a switch contact electrically connected to the circuit to be broken, said switch contact be ing engaged by said vblade when in closed posltion.

7. A switch unitcomprising; abase; fuse' contacts supported by said base, a blade pivoted adjacent-one of said fuse contacts to move in front of a fuse held in said fuse conlill tact when said blade is in closed position thereby preventing the removal of said fuse;

.and a switch contact engaged by said blade when in a closed osition, said contact, said blade,l and said use being then connected in series across an electric circuit.

8. A switch unit comprising: a front havingan opening therein; an insulation base,-

supported back of said front; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade pivoted to said arm; an insulation housing having an opening through which the free end of said blade may pass in moving into closed position; a switch contact in said housing adapted to be engaged by said blade, said opening being too small to permit manual engagement with said contact; and a door secured directly to said blade and closing said opening when said blade engages said contact.

9. A switch unit comprising: a front having an opening therein; an insulationbase supported back of said front; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade pivoted to said arm; a switch contact adapted to engage said blade when said blade is in a closed p0- sition; and a door pivoting about the pivotal axis connecting said arm and said blade, said door filling said opening when said blade engages said switch contact and lying flush with said front.

10.IA combination as definedy in claim 9- 11. A switch unit comprising: a front having an opening therein; an insulation base i supported back of said front; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade; pivot means for pivoting said blade to said arm; a switch contact adapted to engage said blade when said blade is in a closed position; and a door pivoted by said pivot means about the pivotal axis connecting said arm and said blade, said door filling said opening and lying iush with said front when said blade is in aclosed posit-lon. 12. A switch unit comprising: a front having an opening therein; an insulation base supported back of said front; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade pivoted to said arm; a switch contact adapted to engage said blade when said blade is in a closed position; and a door secured to said blade and pivoting about the pivotal axis connecting-said arm and said blade, said door lling said opening when said blade engages said switch contact and lying flush with said front.

13.- A switch unit comprising: a front havingan opening therein; an insulation `base supported back of said front; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade pivoted to said arm about a pivotal axis between said front and said base; a switch contact adapted to engage` said blade when said blade is in a closed position; and a door pivoting about the ivotal axis connecting said arm and said bla e, said door illingsaid opening when said blade engages said switch contact and lying flush with said front.

14; A switch unit'comprising: a front havingaan opening therein; an insulationbase supported back of said front; fuse contacts jacent one of said fuse contacts v,to move in front of a fuse held in said; fuse contacts when said blade is in closed position thereby preventing removal of said fuse; a switch contact engaged by said blade when in a.V

closed position; and a door pivoted about the pivotal `axis of' said blade and closing said opening in said front when said blade is in closed position.

15. A switch unit comprising: a front having an opening therein; an insulation base supported back of said front; fuse contacts supported by said base; -a blade pivoted adjacent one of said fuse contacts to move in front of a fuse held in said fuse contacts when said blade is in closed position thereby preventing removal of said fuse; a switchy contact engaged vby said blade when in a closed position; and a door secured directly to said blade and closing said opening in said front when said blade is in closed position.

16. A switch unit comprising :a front having an opening therein; an insulation base supported back of said front; fuse contacts supported by said base; a blade pivoted about a pivotal axis' between said front and said base and pivoted adjacent one of said fuse contacts to move in front of a fuse held in said fuse contacts when said blade .is in f closed position thereby preventing removal of said fuse; a switch contact engaged by saidl blade when .in a closed position; and a door pivoted about the pivotal axis of said blade and closing said opening in said front when said blade is in closed position.

17. In a switch, the combination of: a base; a pivot arm secured. to said base; a blade pivoted to said' pivot arm; a break jaw secured to said base in such a position as to be engaged by said blade -when said switch is closed; a pair of fuse holders placed between said pivot arm and said break jaw, said pivot arm and break jaw being'of sufficient lengthto allow said blade to be thrown into closed positionl when a fuse is in place in said fuse holders; and means for connecting said pivot arm to one of said fuse holders.

18. In a switch, the combination of: a base; a pivot arm secured to said base; a blade pivoted to said vpivot arm; a break jaw secured to said base insuch 'a position as to be engaged by said blade when said switch is closed; a pair of fuse holders placed between s aid pivot arm and said break jaw, said pivot arm and break jaw being of suilicient length to allow said blade to ,be thrown into closed position when a fuse is in place in saidfuse holders; and means for connecting said pivot arm to one of said fuse holders, anv insulating housing enclosing said break jaw but slotted to allow said blade to pass therethrough. l

Y19. `A switch 't comprising :la base; fuse 1 contacts'eupported by said base; and circuit interrupting means, said means when in position closing said circuit being in front of a fuse held in said fuse contacts,'thereby reventing the removal of said fuse, said se being connected in series with said means.

20. A- switch unit comprising: a base; electrically controlled circuit breaking means associated with said base; and manually controlled circuit interrupting means disposed adjacent said electrically controlled circuit breaking means when said circuit is closed to" prevent the removal of said electrically controlled means, said electrically controlled and said manually controlled means being connected in series.

21. A switch unit com rising: a base; fuse contacts supported by said base; a blade having one end disposed adjacent one ofsaid fuse contacts and adapted for movement in front of a fuse held in said fuse contacts when said blade is in closed position thereby preventing the removal of said fuse; and a. switch contact engaged by said bladewhen in a closed position, said contact, said blade, and said fuse -bein then connected in series across an electric circuit. C

22. A switch unit'comprising: a base; fuse contacts supported by said base; a blade adapted for movement into closed position in front of a fuse held in said fuse contacts; a switch contact engaged by said blade when in a" closed position; and means secured to said bladev for preventing the removal of and concealing said fuse when said blade is in closed'position. A

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 10th dayof June, 1927. Y

JOSEPH H. PENGILLY.

WILL F. WILSON. 

